Water supply control means for detector cars



Aug. 6, 1935-, A. WINBURN 2,010,169

WATER SUPPLY CONTROL MEANS FOR DETECTOR CARS Filed Dec. 13, 1930 INVENTOR Abraham Winbum Patented Aug. 6, 1935 WATER SUPPLY CONTROL MEANS FOR DETECTOR CARS Abraham Winburn, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Sperry Products, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 13, 1930, Serial No. 502,162

4 Claims.

My invention relates to flaw detecting apparatus for detecting flaws in electric conductors. More particularly, this invention is adapted for application on the Sperry rail flaw detector, in

5 which a car operates over rails and has means for sending current through the rails to establish an electro-magnetic ,field around the same so that flaws within the rail will vary the electromagnetic flux, which can then be detected by induction coils.

It has been found that by spraying a fluid, such as water, upon the conductor in advance of the contacts for leading current into the rail, better contact and, therefore, a greater flux were obtained.

It has been found, however, that often during periods when no testing was being done the water was left running due to the forgetfulness of the operator. It has also been found that the operator, who has a multiplicity of duties to perform, sometimes forgot to turn the water on when about to begin testing.

My invention, therefore, has for its principal object an improved means whereby the flow of liquid to the conductor will be automatically turned on when circuit for sending current through the rails is closed and will automatically stop the flow of fluid to the conductor when said circuit is broken.

With this invention it can be easily seen that the detector carriage may remain in the lowered position, with brushes contacting with the rails, for any length of time and yet no fluid will flow to the rails until such time when there is actual need for the fluid, that is, when current is introduced into the rail for testing. This results in a great saving of fluid used and at the same time eliminates the possibility of any errors due to the forgetfulness of the operator.

Further objects of my invention will become apparent in the following detailed description thereof.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly sectioned vertically, of a portion of the Sperry rail flaw detector car and the mechanism supported therefrom.

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram illustrating the principle of operation of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown in Fig. 1 the floor III of the car, below which is suspended the contact and detector coil carriage and mechanism. Said mechanism comprises sets of contacts |2, for leading current into and out of the conductor, which in this case is rail IS. The said contacts are carried by a support 20 which is normally held in elevated position by means of a spring and cable system which comprises cables 2| and 22 passing over pulleys 23 and 24, and connected to a spring 25. The support 20 is guided in its upward movement by means of piston rods 30 connected to pistons 3| operating in cylinders 32, fixed to the car. The piston rods 30 are pivoted to the support 20 at 33 and said support is guided along the rails by flanged wheels 35 pivoted to the support at 3B.

The support 20 being normally held in elevated position by spring 25, a source of power must be applied to lower same against the action of said spring. The power may take the form of a source of compressed fluid, such as compressed air, entering the cylinders 32 as indicated.

In order to effect better contact between the contacts II and I2 and the surface of rail l5, there is provided a source of fluid, which may be water, supplied from tank 45, said supply being controlled by a valve 46 and valve lever 41 through a pipe comprising a fixed portion 48 and a, flexible portion 48, to a nozzle 49. For operating valve 46 I may provide an electromagnet 5|, thecore 50 of which is connected to valve handle 41.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that when switch is closed, current travels from A. C. generator G into rail l5 by way of contacts II and leaves the rail through contacts l2. The circuit includes a. transformer GI, 62 for energizing coil 5| to open valve 46 and start the flow of fluid. Similarly, when the circuit is broken, either by opening switch 60 or by the contacts I and I2 disengaging the rail, coil 5| is de-energized, the valve is closed by spring 53, and the flow of fluid to the rails is stopped.

The support 20 also supports by a universal mounting the detector carriage 70, in which are mounted the detector coils 1|, 12 which cut the magnetic lines of force surrounding the rail |5 to induce differential E. M. F.s when a flaw is encountered.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principle and operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, butI desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combination and relations described, some of these may bealtered and others omitted without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention extends to such use.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a flaw detector for electric conductors, means including contacts engaging the conductor for establishing a circuit therethrough, means for supplying fluid to said conductor surface, and means sensitive to the current through the said circuit whereby said fluid means is rendered effective and ineffective when the circuit is made and broken, respectively.

2. In a flaw detector for electric conductors, means including contacts engaging the conductor for establishing a circuit therethrough, means for supplying fluid to said conductor surface, an electrically operated valve for controlling said fluid supply, and means whereby said valve is opened and closed when the circuit is made and broken, respectively.

3. In a flaw detector for electric conductors, means including contacts engaging the conductor for establishing a circuit therethrough, means for controlling said circuit, means for supplying fluid to said conductors, electrically operated means for controlling said fluid supply, and means whereby said circuit-controlling means automatically controls said electrically operated means.

4. In a flaw detector for electric conductors, means including contacts engaging the conductor for establishing a circuit therethrough, means for supplying fluid to said conductor surface, and electrically operated means for controlling said fluid supply, said electrically operated means being included in said circuit whereby said fluid means is rendered ineffective when said circuit is broken.

ABRAHAM WINBURN. 

